Jesus Brings Us Together

During our Reverse Mission trip, the Ecuadorian staff collaborated with members of the Church of the Good Shepherd in Joliet, IL, for a multicultural church service. Church of the Good Shepherd has been a long supporter of the Santiago Partnership and the mission in Ecuador and welcomed us into their church family for a beautiful celebration of all God has done. 

Before the service, church members and friends gathered for a Meet-and-Greet with our Ecuadorian friends to learn more about their individual jobs and their motivation for serving with the ministry. Each shared personal stories and answered questions from the audience.

The service was filled with scripture, testimony, and song, all in English and Spanish. Our own chaplain, Mirian Valle, spoke about her upbringing and journey to service, citing verses from James. Pastor Christian Sani offered a message encouraging us to give of all God has given us to those around us who have less, giving out of our abundance, not what is left over. The worship band led us in songs, one sung in English and one sung in Spanish. They closed the service with the song, What a Beautiful Name, alternating verses in English and Spanish. No matter the language being spoken, God’s love transcended it all, and the Holy Spirit was felt in this place. 

Following the worship service, we enjoyed a wonderful lunch provided by members of the church and friends. The desserts were a big hit with our Ecuadorian friends, with some packing to go containers to share with family back home. It was a beautiful time of fellowship - many smiles and laughter filled the room.

We are so grateful for our relationship with Church of the Good Shepherd. It was wonderful to once again be among friends, share updates, worship together, and deepen our relationship. If you think your church might be interested in partnering with the Santiago Partnership to spread the Good News, please reach out to us! We would love to discuss how you can be involved.

Email us at info@santiagopartnership.org.